Asian Studies (BA)

Offered by the Critical Race, Gender, and Culture Studies Collaborative, College of Arts and Sciences, the BA in Asian Studies aims to understand Asia in a dynamic global context. It enhances students' understanding of historical and contemporary global culture and politics by enabling students to engage with an extensive and intensive study of Asia in the past and present. Students explore the societies of East and South Asia and their global ramifications. The program offers a lively academic study of Asia through interdisciplinary curriculum, internships, international exchange programs, and study abroad.

Admission to the Program

Formal admission to the major requires a grade point average of 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) and the approval of the program director.

120 credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or better

Completion of college writing requirement

Completion of university mathematics requirement

General Education Requirements

A total of ten courses, consisting of two courses from each of the five foundational areas

At least one course from Area Five: The Natural and Mathematical Sciences must include a laboratory science component

No more than two courses may be taken in the same discipline

Major Requirements

39 credit hours with grades of C or better, including at least 18 credit hours at or above 300-level

Demonstrate proficiency in at least one Asian language equivalent to two years of college-level study as certified by the Department of World Languages and Cultures

Concentration (12 credit hours)

Complete 12 credit hours from the following or other approved upper-level courses, focusing on a concentration determined by the student's research interests; concentrations may be discipline-based (history and politics, arts and culture, philosophy and religion) or region-based (China, India, Japan, Korea):

Senior Capstone Project (3 credit hours)

3 credit hours in an approved capstone project course

Combined Bachelor's and Master's Degrees

American University offers students the opportunity to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees through its combined bachelor's/master's programs. See Combined Bachelor's and Master's Degrees for more information.